James Knoll Gardner

Who is James Knoll Gardner?

James Knoll Gardner is a United States federal judge.

Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Gardner received a B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University in 1962 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1965. He was on active duty in the United States Navy JAG Corps from 1966 to 1969, remaining a U.S. Naval Reserve JAG Corps officer from 1969 to 1993, retiring as a Captain. He was in private practice of law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1965 to 1966 and 1969 to 1970, and in Allentown from 1970 to 1981. He was Solicitor to the Treasurer of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1977. He was an Assistant District Attorney of Lehigh County from 1972 to 1977, and then First Assistant District Attorney of Lehigh County from 1977 to 1981. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County from 1981 to 2002, serving as President Judge from 1997 to 2001.

On April 22, 2002, Gardner was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania vacated by Jan Ely DuBois. Gardner was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 2, 2002, and received his commission on October 3, 2002.